It's easier than you think to make your small HK apartment feel like home, and the dynamic duo at The Hallmark, Abbey Hall Interiors have put together some small apartment interior design tips for you.
Home is where the heart is, but in Hong Kong, that can mean squishing your ticker into something a little smaller than you’re used too. We’ve already talked about the best indoor plants to green up your space and how to work some love feng shui on your apartment, but how do you easily make your tiny house feel welcoming, especially when you’re only renting? For the answer, we went straight to the professionals: Abbey Hall and Melanie Pauline from The Hallmark, Abbey Hall Interiors. Find out their top five small apartment interior design tips, that will have your pad looking flash in no time.
The Hallmark, Abbey Hall Interiors
The Hallmark, Abbey Hall Interiors is a company that is used to working within the confines of smaller Hong Kong homes, having been established in the territory for nearly half a decade. Luckily, Founder and Director Abbey Hall and Hong Kong Director Melanie Pauline have put together a list of tips on how to make the best use of your space, no matter how small it is.
Small apartment interior design tips, especially for Hong Kong
1. Incorporate your favourites
If you’re a bit of a global nomad like us, you will have most likely collected interesting pieces of furniture, photographs, books, art and artefacts along the way. Pick out the ones you LOVE and use them wisely in your space. You may have to cull, but we think this is a very important step in turning bricks and mortar into a home. Not only does it bring interest into the space but it will reflect your personality and style.
2. Don’t be afraid of colour!
In many Hong Kong apartments there is a whole lot of white when you move in… lots of white painted walls and ceilings, white tiles, white curtains. Bring the space to life with bursts of colour. If your preference is for a monochromatic colour scheme use lots of textures in the same hue to provide uniformity. If you choose complementary colours it will also liven up the space. In a rental we tend to use block colours in rugs, large pieces of furniture like sofas and add colour and pattern through the use of soft furnishings, like cushions and ottomans. It’s more cost effective to change these out more regularly with new seasons and trends.
3. Create zones
In small space rental apartments, particularly when there is a lot of open plan living, we find it works best to create zones for best function and form. Centre your sofa around a rug to create a living space, find a nook for a study desk, anchor your dining area with a pendant light. Using a variety of techniques from floor to ceiling to create mini zones will make it feel like you have more space.
Also use furniture that multi tasks. We love ottomans, as they work as extra seating when required, and doubles as a footstool or a coffee table or side table.
4. Collect original art
Hong Kong has an amazing array of art galleries and art shows across all spectrums, from the Affordable Art show to global art events like Art Basel. These shows provide opportunities to view amazing inspirational work in many forms, from sculpture to video installations and paintings. We think collecting original art is a wonderful way to start personalising your space – it creates a connection between you and the home and a link to your local environment and culture. The placement can create the centrepiece to a whole space and be the basis for colour palette inspiration used throughout the home. Definitely one of our favourite small apartment interior design tips.
5. Harmony
Whether you are a follower of feng shui or not, it’s important to create balance and symmetry for a sense of harmony in a living space. We tend to balance a sideboard with a lamp on each end, flag a piece of furniture with porcelain urns, or balance a living area with two armchairs. Most important of all, the home needs to be a reflection of those that live in it!
Find out more about The Hallmark, Abbey Hall Interior Design.
